How to Achieve the Perfect Pour

The Perfect Pour

Correctly pouring draft beer is one of the truest art forms. You get an overwhelming sense of pride when you pour the perfect pint, and with it comes richer, bolder flavors and the best beer head. The perfect pour is an important part of the beer tasting experience, so you should remember these things when serving a cold, fresh draft beer:

Make sure you use a clean glass. Dirty glasses contain numerous amounts of oils, dirt, and residue from previous beers. This can not only be harmful to your health, but it can also inhibit the beer head from being created and can also taint the rich flavor of the beer.

Keep the pint glass at a 45° angle. When you pour the beer, be sure to target the middle of the glass. This ensures that you pour more of the actual beer than the beer head. While it is okay to go slow, you shouldn't be afraid to pour hard or to keep some distance between the bottle (or tap) and the glass.

At the halfway point, tilt the glass back to 90° and continue pouring. This creates the perfect beer head, making it foamy and frothy. While some people may not like beer head, it is always good to have on a beer because it releases the aromas of the beer and adds to the presentation. If your pour is creating too little head in your beer, create more space between the tap or bottle and the glass while you pour. For the ideal beer, the head should be between 1" and 1-1/2" thick.

For Bottle-Conditioned Beers

Bottle-conditioned beers sometimes contain a considerable amount of yeast in the bottle, giving the beer a more robust taste when poured. While this may be a highlight that many experienced beer enthusiasts crave, not everyone will enjoy the taste. If you are one of those who prefer to keep the yeast out of your beer when serving, make sure you watch closely while pouring. Doing this will help you to exclude the yeast sediment and particles at the bottom of the bottle.